In 1882, the Gospel Pilgrim Society founded one of the first Black cemeteries in the region. The cemetery, now known as Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, has seen—over its long history— some 3500 African Americans buried on its grounds, at least 25 percent of whom were formerly enslaved.
Over the decades, however, the cemetery has become overgrown, despite several efforts in recent years to clean up this historic site. Fred Smith, Executive Director of the East Athens Development Corporation joins us today to talk about Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery’s history, where it stands today, and its lasting importance to the community.
